We have never taken our 2 DD`s abroad, they are 12 & 13. Younger DD went to Paris with the school in September & Older DD is going Germany with the school in June.Never seemed to be able to afford it, even before I split with their dad last year. We go to Hunstanton for a whole week in a caravan as soon as school is out & then for either a long week-end or mid-week break in August. Last year the weeks holiday was at a Haven site at Hopton. We even have a holiday grant to help us out with the cost else we would not be able to afford it! Kids have never really complained, other than to enquire why we have never been abroad, they love the UK seaside holidays!!

Well, going overseas doesn't have to cost more than staying in the UK. In fact, it can be quite a bit cheaper sometimes, depending on when/where you go. I find a lot of UK holidays surprisingly expensive though.

Why doesn't your DH want to go abroad?

I'm not sure I agree with either his or your reasoning, tbh. He works and earns the money, yes, but if you're a married couple its YOUR money, not HIS. I would have a problem if my DH always got his way with our holiday destinations and I got no say at all. If you want to go abroad and so do your DC I really feel he should agree to give it a try or agree that he picks the destination one year and you the next. It's only fair IMO.

My ds first went abroad with school at the age of 13. Dd will no doubt be the same (currently 11). I feel awful to not be able to take them myself. But we can't afford passports for us all let alone pay for the holiday. We always have great holidays in the uk though which they both enjoy.

I have been wondering about this too as my DD (also 10) has never been abroad either although most of her friends have. I don't see it as a problem - we have a lovely holiday in the UK most years - but she has pointed it out so I guess it's something we should start thinking about. I didn't travel abroad apart from the odd school trip until I left home so it doesn't seem that much of a big deal to me.

My 9 year old has been to lots of countries and absolutely loves travel. We are lucky enough to be able to afford it. Not all of his friends have been abroad so you're not that unusualI earn much less than dh but still have equal say in where we go, it's quite sad that you don't

Our family holidays are taken in the uk.Before DCs we went abroad 2-3 times a year .We could easily afford to go abroad but we choose not to.When they were young I could think of nothing worse then hauling them off abroad.We have 3 or 4 Uk breaks a year I don't think my DCs are missing out on anything .Sometimes cottages, sometimes city apartment and lots of very nice hotels.....my DS 2 once told a friend he had never been in a hotel which was less than 4 star.Believe me they don't suffer.We have been to lots of museums stately homes galleries castles etc.Done a fair bit of adventure type holidays too.As well as hazy beach days .I certainly don't think the 10 year old friends of my DS ask to go abroad....I always get the impression their parents want the foreign holiday and the children are going...regardless.

Does it matter whether it's usual or not, if it's what suits your family? I hadn't been abroad at that age either (actually I don't think I'd been on any holidays at all, we didn't start going away even within the UK until I was about 12/13).

I was a bit surprised by your SAHM comment too. If you have an single-earner/SAHM setup, surely the money is all family money? And things like planning holidays should be a joint decision? You sound very passive and disempowered.

I would say it is pretty unusual for a 10 yr old not to have been abroad, but all of my best holiday memories from childhood are actually of holidays here rather than abroad, so I don't think they are missing out.

I was 25 when I first went abroad. Family holidays as a kid were always camping. There just wasn't the money for foreign holidays. The only thing that bothered me was that my older sister went on two foreign exchange trips with school but my brother and I didn't, thanks to a decrease in family finances. So whether it's unusual or not to have never been abroad at age ten, I doubt it'll do your son any harm!

I wouldn't worry about it. There are loads of great places to go to in Britain. My children have rarely been abroad (and frankly the couple of freezing cold weekends taking the ferry from Dover were not much fun). Lots of people don't go abroad - can't afford it.If you're going to do it at all, I would save it for the secondary school years. The difference in culture will mean more to the children at that age, and they can practise their languages.My DD aged 10 has actually been abroad twice this year - but both times on her own (the first time with a group, and the second on an exchange visit to France). She is at an age where she has really appreciated it, and going without family has been a great experience for her too. And so cheap and convenient for me! Your DC will probably get the chance to go with his school soon.

Going abroad thing is a great adventure. That's not to say you can't have adventures in this country but having the opportunity to experience different cultures, languages and foods is always exciting and broadens the mind.

Package holidays to places where children experience no more than they would from a week in Blackpool not so much.

I am 30 now and have never been abroad with my parents. When I was a kid holidays (if any) were limited to the UK. This was partly because my parents were not well off but also because they have never flown.

As a kid I felt really left out as my friends were all going to France, Spain, Disneyland etc. It did cause tension with my parents.

As soon as I was old enough (probably about 17/18) I started travelling abroad and now I am very well travelled indeed and have been to many weird and wonderful places that other people would not think of going.

No idea what the statistics are but as long as you all enjoy your holidays it really shouldn't matter where they are. DS is 11 and has been abroad several times, as have the majority (if not all) of his friends.

I'm more concerned that you seem to think you have no say in where you all go because you are a stay at home mum.

Thanks for your reply. Yes he loves our holidays. We always have fun on the beach and do family things. I didn't go abroad until I was older so never went as a child, it is just his friends go abroad and he is different as has never been.

Yes I would love to take both children abroad for the experiece. Just makes me feel a bit guilty that they haven't been.